The first full NBA season in two years got off to a slower start on TNT.
Tuesday’s Celtics/Heat NBA regular season game drew 5.371 million viewers on TNT, down 27% from Heat/Celtics in 2010 (7.348M), but up 34% from Celtics/Cavaliers in 2009 (4.021M).
Last year’s Opening Night Bulls/Mavericks game was canceled due to the NBA owners’ five-month lockout. The season instead opened with a Noon ET Celtics/Knicks game on TNT Christmas Day, which earned 5.860 million viewers.
Tuesday’s opener was likely affected — at least somewhat — by weather-related power outages in major television markets.
Later in the night, the Mavericks/Lakers game drew 4.298 million viewers — up slightly from Rockets/Lakers in 2010 (4.279M), and up 28% from Clippers/Lakers in 2009 (3.358M).
Viewership For NBA Opening Night Games
Past five seasons
* 2011-12 season delayed and shortened due to owner-imposed lockout
| Year | Date | Away | Home | Net | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Tue., 10/30/12 | Celtics | Heat | TNT |
5,371
|
| Mavs | Lakers | TNT |
4,298
|
||
| 2011 | Tue., 11/1/11 | Bulls | Mavs |
CANCELED
|
|
| Thunder | Lakers | ||||
| 2010 | Tue., 10/26/10 | Heat | Celtics | TNT |
7,348
|
| Rockets | Lakers | TNT |
4,279
|
||
| 2009 | Tue., 10/27/09 | Celtics | Cavs | TNT |
4,021
|
| Clippers | Lakers | TNT |
3,358
|
||
| 2008 | Tue., 10/28/08 | Cavs | Celtics | TNT |
2,612
|
| Blazers | Lakers | TNT |
2,539
|
||
(Tuesday’s numbers from TV By the Numbers)
